Early retirement rights coming for 45 professional groups! SGK announced them one by one

The hope for early retirement, which millions of workers in Turkey have been waiting for, has returned to the agenda with the current 'wear and tear' allowance regulations announced by the Social Security Institution (SGK). As of 2026, significant advantages for retirement have been granted to a total of 45 different professional groups through the actual service period increase.

WHAT DO THE WEAR AND TEAR ALLOWANCE DETAILS BRING?

The actual service period increase, known in the public as the 'wear and tear' allowance, covers those working in risky fields, especially in health, security, and heavy industry. With this practice, individuals working in these jobs advance their chances of retirement by adding extra days, which vary by sector, to the 360 days normally counted for each year. With the new SGK regulation, these additional periods range between 60 and 180 days.

While underground mine workers have the highest wear and tear advantage with 180 days per year, personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces, the Police, the National Intelligence Organization, and members of the press gain 90 additional days each year. Those working in glass, cement, and thermal power plants benefit from the wear and tear allowance with an additional 60 days per year. Healthcare workers and firefighting personnel are also among the other risky professional groups included in the scope.

HOW ARE EARLY RETIREMENT CALCULATIONS MADE?

Those who want to qualify for early retirement must evaluate the process with a special calculation regarding the wear and tear allowance. The periods added to the premium day count are included at certain rates: 17% for those receiving 60 extra days, 25% for those with 90 days added, and 50% for those with 180 days added.

To explain with an example; when a person who earns 90 days of wear and tear rights per year pays a total of 7000 days of premiums, 1750 days are added to this amount. This period is reflected in both the premium day count and, when certain conditions are met, causes the retirement age to decrease.

THE 3600-DAY CONDITION

To fully benefit from the wear and tear allowance, employees must have worked actively in the relevant risky profession for at least 3600 days, or 10 years. Although this rule is more flexible for mine workers, it is strictly applied in general professional groups to prevent abuse.

In its latest examinations, the SGK drew attention to incorrect professional code declarations. Not all employees in a workplace where the wear and tear allowance is applied can automatically benefit from this right. While those directly involved in the risky work, for example, workers employed in the production department of a mercury factory, qualify, individuals in positions such as secretaries, drivers, consultants, or cooks working in the same factory do not become eligible. If employers show these employees as being within the scope of the wear and tear allowance, the SGK can cancel service records when retirement time comes. This can lead to major disappointments for employees.

It is of serious importance for those who want to evaluate the early retirement opportunity to ensure that their job codes are entered correctly. SGK officials are meticulously examining the more than 4,800 professional codes and do not allow those who are not actually in the risky class to obtain the right to early retirement.

News Source: 12punto